Corn-planter.



2 SHEETS-SHEET v1l Gtto'mupl Patented Aug..3, 1909.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. E. TOWLE. CORN PLANTER. APrLIoATIoN FILED Nov. so, 190s. 930, 1 O6.

ELMEB E. TOWLE, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, AS

SIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SEEDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CORN-PLAN TER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

Application filed November 30, 1908. Serial No. 465,237.

To all whomfit may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. ToWLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented cer-tain -new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide aseed dropper for a corn planter, which will accurately feed and drop the seed of the corn serially'continuous without injury to the kernels.

A feature of the invention consists in employing a seed ring provided with cells abutting` a central seed supporting plate, the parts being so disposed as to form a seed channel terminating at the point of cut-oil', at which point the top of the cells are substantially on a level with the central plate, said channel being of greater depth at points opposite thereof, so as to secure a proper lilling of the cell with an individual lkernel, which result is produced by the inclination of the central disk or plate forming the inner boundary of the seed channel.

The features of the invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:-

Figure l is a top plan view of the seed dropper. Fig. 2 is a section on line w, cc, Fig.-1. Fig. 3 is a section on line fv, fv, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the seed dropper. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of theseed cell ring. Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail top `plan view of. cut-olf land seed discharge lever, shown in elevation, Fig. 3.

1 represents a hopper base having a depending marginal flange orming the outer boundary ofthe seed channel.

2 represents ears for hinging the hopper base tothe frame or support.. 3 represents a lug projecting from said base for locking the same in position.

,'4 represents ears to which the shell of the hopper is attached.

5 represents a seed cell ring.

represents Vthe cells into which the kernels of the corn drop, as the rin is traveling or rotating toward the-point o delivery.

8 represents a central disk` inside of the chill ring. It is lprovided. with an annular n thegseeed channel 10. The ring or disk is preferably made to rotate' in unison with 9 which forms the inner Yboundary of the cell ring, and for this purpose the cell ring is provided with one or more lugs 12, projecting into notches 13, formed in the flange 9 of the disk 8, as shown in Fig. 1. 'lhe central disk is mounted at an angle to the :horizontal plane of the cell ring, as shown in Fig. 2, for purposes which will be hereinafter explained.

14 represents a central plate supported by arched spider arms 15 formed integral with the base 1. v j

'16.represents an inclined bearing for the central disk 8. The plate 16 and the central plate 14 are preferably made in two pieces for convenience of construction and assembly. j

17 represents a pivoted 'cut-oil linger bearing against the spring 18, its pomt normally resting upon the cell ring 5 and disk S, see Figs. 1 and 2.

19 represents a pivoted spring controlled discharge finger of usual form of construction. The cut-off and discharge lingers are shown in their normal position in relation to the cell ring.

20 represents a driving gear ring detach- 'ably connected -to the cell ring 6. This gear is driven in any Well-known manner not shown.

21 represents a bearing plate for the said ring 5. It is rigidly secured to thecentral plate 14 and inclined plate 16 by means of the bolt 22, said plate maintaining the c ell ring and gear in position. The bearing plates 21, and 1G, are disposed in angular planes to give the ring 5 and disk 8 planes of rotation in different angles with their adjacent edges always coincident at one pointso that at their positions of noncoincidence theinner face of the hopper 1, and the ring 5, form ythe sides and bottom of the seed channel. The nut- 23 secures the incllned plate against the central plate 14, and the nut 24 secures the base plate agalnst the inclined plate.

25 represents a deli-Very chute for the seed formed integral and projecting from the base .plate 21 and in alinement with the discharge `finger.

The seed way or channeLlO formed between the annual flange 9 and the inclined flange 26 of the hopper base 1,'is of greater depthabove vthe cell ring at points nearly opposite the cnt-off 17, see Fig. 2, while the the outer face of the flange 9,-

breaking any of the seeds by the action of the cut-oilv in the separationA of the mass top of the central disk is .approximatelyl on -the central disk inside .points 30 for the a level with the cell ring at the cut-oli".v T his construction is important for the following reasons As the cell ring approaches the. cut-off itl carries a kernel of corn in the'cell,

other kernels resting upon' it are pushed aside b y 'the'cut-otf and pass freely inwardly on the central disk, without danger of being injured. It is preferred to have the central disk revolved in .unison with the ring, so that thev surplus seed may be carried around and dropped into the seed channellO. The object is to keep the seed channel 10 filled with seed and the cells individually filled i l5 from the individu-al seed.` l

llhe central stationary plate 14 is shown as providedl with cam-shaped .defiecting v purpose of directing the seed into the seed channel. The central disk 8, if made stationary, provided the inclinationof the same to the cell ring was maintained, would serve a hi hly useful purpose, but better results are .otained by causing the said disk to revolve in unison with the V cell ring;

. known as the intermittent gear with equally good results.

- tained and the dan As shown in the drawings, 'the driving gear carrying the'cell ring is of the form rotation in common use, but the seeding hopperand constituent-parts are adapted to use in corn planters, having a'continuous rotation and valve mechanism provided with.` periodical trips for dropping 'seedin hills, that may be used instead of the intermediate rotating This seeding device also may -be used for drilling corn o r seed by employment of the usual accessory devices commonly employed in drilling corn planters. This. corn dropper is, therefore, adapted and can be used with the various forms of planters and mechanism now -employed for dro ping corn in hills or for drillingcorn by planting each` seed 'i'n-A d ivdual'ly a given space apart from the next see By means of the construction tion of the partsv herein shown and described a more uniform delivery of the l'seedis obger of injuring or destroying the seed is obvlated. A

The cell ring shown and described as the preferred form of construction, has cells,

the edges of the rotatable members be and member being. and operas -of filling the cellsand dropping the seeds in the same from the mass inthe hopper will preferred in ordinaryi be obtained if the cells were made to hold two or more seeds or kernels o'fcorn, without departing from the vention. v

The essential feature of the device is the means for bringing'the adjacent edgesof the plate and holder. into and out of coincidence during each rotation, thereb -formm a definite seed-way where -the a 'acent ges are non-coincident. The main eature of the invention comprises-the rotatable seed ring and its concentric diskdisposed at angular planes so as to give their adJacent edges a point of coincidence at which theseed can pass from one member to the other, at their positions of non-coincidence, rising. above theaseed ring, so as to "form therewith and with the adJacent surface of the hopper, a seed channel. In this way the seeds are'more eiiciently discharged om the hopper in uniform quantities and they are preserved from any injury when sub.-

l jected to the influence of the moving parts within ,the hopper. Having described my invention, I claim l. A seed hopper, aseed carrier, and a disk.

concentric therewith, the disk and carrier arranged in diii'erent-planes with their edges Y coincident only at one point, whereby a seed- .Waynis formed between the hopper, carrierv part of the disk, and meansfor rotating "the carrier and disk.

and non-coincident 2. In combination, a rotatable .seed carrier, 4and a rotatable disk disposed at an an-- gle to the carrier andconcentric therewith,

principles ofA this `inthe side edge of the disk' said disk andcarrier beingcoincident at one point. d 1 y U 3. A container,v a rotatable seed ring, and a rotatable disk withm the rmg, the ring and disk arranged in different planes with edges inI the same plane at' their adjacent the discharge point.

4." A seed feeder comprising an outer wall, a rotatable discharge member, an inner ro-v tatable member concentric with the discharge mem-ber and disposed (in av different plane,

incident at one oint.

-5. A seed disc arger comprising-a rotata-v and an inner rotageo'.

- point, and a stationary de carrier and non-coincident part of the disk, and means for rotating the carrier.

T. A seed-hopper, a seed carrier and a disk concentric therewith, bearings for said carrier and disk arranged in different planes, whereby the disk and carrier have their edges coincident at one point and forming the seed-way between the ring, disk and hop- ,per at their non-coincident positions, means connecting the disk and ring, whereby they rotate in unison and permitting of the relative movement of the disk in following its plane of rotation, and means for rotating the ring.

8. In combination with a rotatable seed carrier and a rotatable disk disposed at an angle to the carrier and concentrlc therewith, said carrier and disk'bein coincident at one ecting member secured on the face of the disk, and adapted to direct the seed deposited on the disk onto the carrier.

9. A seed feeder comprising a hopper, a

-rotatable seed carrier, an inner concentric member disposed in a diierent plane, the edges of the rotatable members being coincident at one point, thereby forming a seedchannel at the1r positions of non-coincidence, and means for discharging seed from the carrier.

10. In combination with a rotatable seed carrier and a concentric disk disposed at an angle to the carrier, said disk and carrier being coincident at one point, said disk and carrier being formed with connections, whereby they rotate in unison but permitting of the relative movements incident to their different planes of rotation.

11. A seed hopper formed with a discharging chute, a rotatable seed ring, having cells, an inner rotatable member concentric with the ring, the ring and member bein disposed in dierent planes with their adjacent edges having one point of coincidence, a spring actuated member engaging the face to automatically other bearing plate,

`my hand.

of the ring over the cells adapted to prevent the overcharging of the cells, and a spring actuated discharging member adapted engage into and out of the cells as they are moved across the seed openmg.

1Q. A seed hopper, angularly disposed bearing plates disposed within the hopper, a seed ring formed with cells supported on one of said bearing plates, said bearing plate formed with an opening for discharging seed from the hopper through the cells, a concentric disk within the ring mounted on Said said bearing plates providing the ring and concentric member with a point of coincidence at their adjacent edges, and means for rotating said seed ring.

13. In combination with a rotatable seed carrier and rotatable disk disposed at an angle to the carrier and concentric therewith, said carrier and disk being coincident at one point, and means forl detlecting the -seed from the disk onto the carrier.

14. A seed hopper, angularly disposed bearing plates disposed within the hopper, a seedA ring formed with cells supported on one of said bearing plates, said bearing plate form ed with an opening for discharging seed from the hopper through the cells, a concentric disk within the ring mounted on said other bearing plate, said bearing plates providing the ring and concentric member with a point of coincidence at their adjacent edges, means for rotating said seed ring, and an automatic discharger adapted to push the seed from the cells into the discharge opening of the bearing plate as' they are successively brought into juxtaposition by the rotation of the carrier.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set ELMER E. TOWLE. Witnesses:

EDWARD CHRISTMAN,

S. H. JONES. 

